Jaipur, Sep 2: Seven people have been arrested and four others detained after a 21-year-old tribal woman was allegedly stripped naked and paraded in a village in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district, police said on Saturday.The incident, caught on camera, was widely criticised by various political leaders.
“We have arrested seven men, including the husband of the accused, and four others have been detained in connection with the case,” Pratapgarh District Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is expected to meet the victim woman and her family at Dhariyawad in Pratapgarh.
In a video which went viral, the woman was disrobed and paraded in front of villagers by her husband. In a statement, DGP Umesh Mishra earlier said 10 people have been named in the FIR for molestation, thrashing the woman besides other relevant sections. Of these, eight men, including the main accused, have been detained, it said. He said the victim lodged a complaint against her husband Kanha Gameti along with Suraj, Beniya, Netiya, Nathu and Mahendra for forcibly taking her on a motorcycle and parading her naked. “The main accused Kanha, Netiya, Beniya and Pintu and a minor have been detained apart from spectators of the crime Punia, Khetia and Motilal,” the police statement said earlier. Police also said that Kanha, Netiya and Benia got injured while trying to flee and are being treated at Pratapgarh district hospital.
Initial investigation revealed that the woman was in a relationship with another man, said Dhariyawad SHO Peshawar Khan. Police said the in-laws of the woman kidnapped her and took her to their village where the incident took place on Thursday. Her in-laws were annoyed as she was staying with another man. DGP Mishra said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the supervision of IG, Banswara Range, and SP Pratapgarh will investigate all aspects of the incident and submit the report to the state government and police headquarters. On the direction of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, DGP Mishra had sent ADG (Crime) Dinesh M N to Pratapgarh Friday night.
Gehlot took cognisance of the incident and posted on X, “Such incidents have no place in a civilised society.” He said the accused will be arrested soon and tried in a fast-track court.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday condemned the ‘harrowing incident’ of Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh in which a woman was paraded naked. In a tweet, the NCW said, “NCW vehemently condemns the harrowing incident in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan. A woman was molested, stripped, and recorded on video. Despite it happening two days ago, police inaction is unacceptable. Rekha Sharma has instructed the state’s DGP to promptly arrest the culprits and invoke necessary IPC provisions. We demand a comprehensive report within five days.” (PTI)
